Making positive use of technical advancements, and accepting the request of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has initiated the latest Contactless Biometric Verification Services for the Banking and Payments Industry, making Pakistan one of the first countries in the world to implement this technology on the national level.
This service was made operational on Thursday during the visit of SBP Governor Dr. Reza Baqir to Nadra headquarters in Islamabad. The service will be used by the banks in Pakistan through the digital app on smartphones recording and authenticating biometrics of the potential account holders from their homes.
“With the introduction of this digital technology the banking system will take a paradigm shift adding remote biometric capturing technology to the digital banking system.”
Besides this, the service will also be provided to the EMIs over and above branchless banking providers. By the use of this innovative product, the EMIs and banks are expected to start proposing new digital banking services to its consumers whereby customers will have the facility to open bank accounts and wallets and control biometric-based financial transactions by using their mobile phone cameras from their homes easily.
Moreover, the banking sector have begun development work to apply this new biometric verification service propelled by Nadra last week.
While addressing to the media, Nadra Chairman Tariq Malik said: “We are addressing the need of the hour during this ongoing pandemic. This new technology makes contactless fingerprint acquisition and matching possible using a smart mobile phone, providing an alternative to conventional methods of conducting digital financial transactions that may require specialized equipment or visits to bank branches/franchises. Nadra is proud to maintain its reputation for introducing niche technological trends in the country. It is another step towards our aim of creating a robust National ID Eco-System in Pakistan.”
“This will not only revolutionize how banking and payments services are offered in the country but will also compliment the financial inclusion drive,” Mr. Malik further added.
Nadra has already instigated a similar mobile verification service for Online ID Services (Pak ID) that was launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sept 1, 2021.
